Tide-operated air compressor



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T. C. VAN EPPS TIDE OPERATED AIR COMPRESSOR Filed May 25, 1927 Nov. 27,1928.

Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

THEODORE C. VAN IlPPS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TIDE-OPERATED AIR COMPRESSOR.

Application filed May 25,

This invention relates to power machines, and more particularly to atide operated pressure generator adapted to convert the power possessedby rising water into mechanical en- I ergy, and to convert the potentialenergy possessed by a float which forms'an element of my device, intoenergy.

A further object of this invention is to devise a means whereby thepower of rising and falling ocean tides may be converted into energy tobe applied to various kinds of machinery for driving the same.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device which isstrong and durable, possesses a minimum number of movable parts, isunlikely to get out of order, will last indefinitely in service, isinexpensive to manufacture, and performs the function required of it inan eflicient and simple manner.

Vith these and many other objects in view which will more readily appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consistsin the novel construction, combina-' tion and arrangement ofparts,'which will hereinafter be more fully described, illustrated, andclaimed.

The essential features of the invention involved in the carrying out ofthe objects indicated are susceptible to modification; but a 80preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken through my device showing the same inassembled relationship in the position it assumes at low tide.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 8 is a view of the preferred form of motor generator used inconnection with my device.

Fig. at is a side view of the motor generator.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the operative connections wherebypower is led from a series of the pressure generators to a storage tank.v

The various figures described above adequately illustrate my invention,and the following detailed description is commensurate with the abovementioned drawings in enabling an artisan to construct and assemble theconstituent parts of the same.

The device involves in its general organization, a plurality of piles 10and 11, which piles are driven into the ocean bed as at 12, and extendupwardly above the surface of the Water. A substantially rectangularframe work hav- 1927. Serial No. 194,067.

ing side bars 13'and end bars 14 are attached to these piles 10 and 11in such a manner as to overlie the surface of the water. Guides 15 aresecured to this frame work and extend vertically for a purpose to bedescribed hereinafter. A plurality of cross bars 16 extend across theside bars 13 and guide bearings 17 are formed in these cross bars. Apontoon 20 is mounted centrally of the frame work and rests upon thesurface of the water. This pontoon has a'superstructure 21 composed ofpilasters 22, and a top frame work formed'of cross bars 23 extendingacross the pilasters 22. The pilasters 22 are slidably received in theguide bearings 17, and suitable rollers 24 serve to guide the pontoonvertically so that the same may rise or fall as the surface of the oceanrises or falls. Secured to the under faces of the super-structure and tothe cross bars 16 respectively, are a pair of inverted annular shells Aand B, and secured to the upper surface of the pontoon 20 and to theupper side of the cross bars 16 are a pair of upright shells C and Drespectively. These two last mentioned shells surround and areconcentric with inner shells E and F. The diameters of the shells A andB are such as to enable the same to be telescoped into the shells D andC respectively, and the diameters of the shells E and Fare such as toenable them to be telescoped into the shells A and B respectively. Asuitable liquid such as water is disposed between the shells D and E andbetween the shells C and F, and annular packing glands and 31 are formedon the inner surface of the shells C and D respectively,and thus aboveand below the cross bars 16 are formed a pair of collapsible tanks.These tanks as. an entirety are designated at M and N. The tank M isprovided with an outlet 33, which outlet leads through a pipe 34. Thetank N isprovided with an outlet 35 leading through a pipe 36, and thepipes 34 and 36 lead to a common outlet 37 which leads to a icollapsiblestorage tank having sections 38 and 39 as shown in Figure 5. Checkvalves are designated at 47 and 18, the check valve 47 providing an airinlet for the tank M, and the check valve 48 providing an air inlet forthe tank N.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction of my device willbe apparent, and I will now proceed with the description of theoperation of the same. I

In actual operation the device is preferably installed within abreak-water 50, and at low tide the device will assume the positionshown in Figure 1. In various localities of the country, particularlyaround the north eastern part of the United States and around the Bay ofFundy, the tide rises to a consider able height, in some cases as highas seventy pressure will be created in the tank N. The

check valve lS will not permit air to escape from this tank, and the airwill be forced through the pipes 36 and 37 to the storage tank 38.During this operation the tank M is expanding and air enters through thecheck valve 47. The check valves 60 permit no air to return to the tanksM and N from the storage tanle At high tide the tank in will becompletelyv expanded and air will have een forced from the tank N underpressure; As thetide falls, the potential energy possessed by thepontoon, together with its superstructure, will cause the air to beeripelled from the tank M as the same collapses, and during thisoperation air enters through the check valve 4l8 This operation iscontinuous.

In practicing my invention I contemplate using a plurality of thesetanks'as shown in Figure 5. These tanks may be connected to a commonpipe line leading to the storage tank. From the storage tankCOHIPI'ESSECl air may be led to a motor generator turbine or the like ofany conventional type, and thus electrical energy is developed, whichenergy may be used for any suitable purpose.

From the foregoing, it is thought that. the construction, use and manyadvantages of the herein-described tide operated pressure generator willbe readily apparent without further description, and it will also beunderstood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details ofconstructionmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof. For example, Icontemplate employing a concrete foundation in'lieu of the piles10,.such change being resorted to within the spirit of the invention andscope of the claims.

What I claim by. this invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is:

l. A tide'operated compressor comprising in combination a pontoon, asuper-structure above said pontoon, a stationary structure between saidpontoon and superstructure, a collapsible tank attached to said pontoonand stationary structure, a second collapsible tank attached to saidsuperstructure and stationary structure, and inlets and outlets for saidtanks;

2. A tide operated compressor comprising in combination a pontoon,pilasters on said pontoon, a plurality-of piles aeapted to be dri oninto the ocean bed, a frame work at tached to said piles, cross barsextendin" across said frame work and overlying Sw m pontoon, guides insaid cross bars adapted to receive said pilasters, a super-structuremount d on said pilasters, an inverted shell on said super-structure, anupright shell on said cross bars, a second inverted shell onsaid bars,an upright shell on said pontoon, said first and second mentioned shellsbeing ed concentrically and forming a tank, aid second and thirdmentioned shells mounted concentrically and forming a more being inletsand outlets from said 3. A device claimed in claim 2, there inner shellin sazd last mentioned n inner shell in said second mene as claimed inclaim 2, and being check valves in said 1 the purpose specified.

r o i(/l s claimed in claim 2, and in l frame Work and roll- T'tion,guides on suit crs mounted said ponton for the purpose specified.

6. ii t de operated compressor compris' in com Dion pontoon, asuperstructure above said pontoon, stationary structure tween saidpontoon and superstructure, a colible tank attached to said pontoon andstationary structure and adapted to'be cc lapsed when th pontoon israised, a seconc. le tank attached to said superstruo said s at ystructure, and adapt ed to be collapsec when the pontoon is lowd outletsfor said tank ted compressor compr es adapted to be driven into .e operaa plurality pil the ocean bed, a pontoon adapted to be raised andlowered by the tides, the movement of said pontoon being limited tovertical mo: ment by said piles, framework rigid viisaid piles, aninverted shell supported by o: an upright shell on said pontoon intoles' opic' engagement with said inverted shel to provide a collapsibletank, a superstructure mounted on said pontoon, an inverted shellsupported by said superstructure, an upright shell on saidsuperstructure in telescopic engagement with said second mentionedinverted shell, to provide a second collapsible tank, check valved inTHEGDORE O. VAN EPPS.

